New Zealand: Rivers Are People, Too

Homer’s epic The Iliad tells the story of Achilles’s near-fatal encounter with the Xanthus River. After Achilles slays many Trojans in the river, the river rises up in the Trojans’ defense, nearly killing Achilles in the ensuing struggle. While Homer took poetic license in his personification of the river, New Zealand has taken this idea a bit too literally.

The agreement has given a whole new meaning to the term “natural rights” by literally bestowing rights upon nature. The river will now hold legal status as a person because of its role in sustaining the Whanganui iwi people.

According to a spokesman for the Minister of Treaty Negotiations, the river will be recognized as a person “in the same way a company is, which will give it rights and interests.” The complete details of the agreement have yet to be finalized, so it remains to be seen what rights personhood will entail beyond legal standing in New Zealand’s courts.

This agreement is only the latest installment in the ongoing controversy over defining personhood. Last year, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a suit on behalf of five orca whales at Sea World, claiming they have been enslaved in violation of the 13th Amendment. In 2008, Ecuador preempted New Zealand by recognizing the legal rights of its mountains and rivers. In fact, the Vilcabamba River in Ecuador has already won a legal suit filed on its behalf against a provincial government.

People do happen to be made up of mostly water, but this is where the similarities end. The Whanganui iwi’s concern that their precious natural resource won’t be protected is understandable, but granting it personhood is clearly not the way to protect the river.

Earth’s natural resources ought to be used wisely, and humans should exercise stewardship of these resources in order to preserve them. Extending the rights of personhood to nature does nothing more than strip personhood of any real meaning and make a mockery of the concept of rights. If we want to protect the environment for the long term, stewardship, not personhood, is the wisest path.

Join The Discussion

New Zealand has no right to violate the rivers' freedom and independence. She didn't request their assistance. Everyone can enjoy her by keeping their filth out of her.

Imposing government views to create rules, regulations and rights of the river when the river can't speak for herself just reveals government gone crazy with the lost sense of rationale! But hey, pretend make work jobs!!!! The goal is jobs! Who cares if money is there or where it comes from when it is? Whatever, New Zealand!

The agreement beween Whanganui Iwi (Maori) and the New Zealand Government deserves praise for its foresight and courage.
This is all about ensuring our river (and it's wider catchment) is protected for present and future generations.
This is all about looking after the health of a river which has nurtured many generations, weaving our histories together and providing nourishment for both the people and the land which surronds its banks.
This is about recognising the relationship of our people to the Whanganui River, best expressed by the whakatauki ( sayin) Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au. I am the river,and the river is me.

Part of Agenda 21, ICLEI and a miriad of other non-governmental agencies…making man unimportant…a rock will have all the rights a human has in the years to come as humans lose status giving all control of their lives over to the masters…those who will have absolute control over what humans do, say, eat, orhow they react, interact…tho interaction will be kept in little towns in just a few places. Have you yet watched Rosa Koire (youtube) explain (there are lots of others who can explain as well, she is just the most literate) or are you going to continue to be led down the rosy path of prison…it is your choice, for the moment…

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